Bahlool’s Visit to the Bathhouse

One day, Bahlool went to the bathhouse, but the attendants ignored him and did not treat him as he wished. However, when Bahlool was about to leave, he gave the ten dinars he had with him all at once to the bathhouse master. The attendants, seeing this generosity, regretted their earlier treatment of him. The next week, Bahlool returned to the same bathhouse, but this time, all the workers treated him with full respect, carefully washing and attending to him. However, when he left, Bahlool gave them only one dinar. The bathhouse master, surprised, asked, “What is the reason for the large gift last week and this small one today?” Bahlool replied, “I paid for today’s bath last week when I came, and today, I’m paying for the bath I took last week, so that you may learn to treat your customers with respect.”